Consultant – Strategic Human Resources Planning and Competency Management Systems Development

Result of Service

The consultancy aims to support the Ministry’s transition from traditional personnel administration approaches toward a more strategic competency-based management system capable of enhancing institutional performance, sustaining critical competencies, and supporting anticipatory workforce planning. In particular, the consultancy will contribute to strengthening the Ministry’s institutional capacity to: • modernize job and competency reference frameworks; • enhance strategic workforce and competency planning; • improve recruitment, training, mobility, and evaluation processes; • identify and address current and future competency gaps; • support continuity of critical competencies and knowledge transfer; and • enhance institutional readiness for digital transformation and administrative reform.

Work Location

Remote - Morocco

Expected duration

4 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Background The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), through its Governance and Conflict Prevention Cluster, supports member States in advancing public sector governance, institutional modernization, and strategic human resources management in line with administrative reform priorities and emerging governance challenges. In the context of accelerating digital transformation, evolving public sector functions, and growing demand for efficient and future-ready administrations, Arab governments are increasingly pursuing modern approaches to public administration based on strategic, competency-based, and anticipatory human resources management systems. Within this framework, ESCWA is collaborating with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform of the Kingdom of Morocco on the development of a modern and integrated framework for strategic human resources management and competency-based workforce planning. The initiative aims to support workforce modernization, competency management, and anticipatory human resources planning within the Ministry, including approaches related to anticipatory management of jobs and competencies (Gestion Prévisionnelle des Emplois et des Compétences – GPEC). The initiative builds on ESCWA’s ongoing work on competency-based public administration reform, strategic workforce planning, and institutional modernization in the Arab region, while contributing to the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen strategic competency management and forward-looking workforce planning approaches. Given the technical scope of the assignment, ESCWA seeks to recruit a national consultant based in Morocco to provide specialized technical expertise for the assessment, development, implementation, and sustainability of strategic competency management and workforce planning systems within the Ministry. The consultancy will support: • the review and updating of job and competency reference frameworks; • the development of strategic workforce planning and competency management approaches; • competency mapping and gap analysis processes; • the identification of critical and future competencies; • the preparation of practical implementation tools and procedures; • the strengthening of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; and • the development of practical guidance supporting implementation and sustainability. The assignment will contribute to aligning human resources management approaches with evolving institutional functions, digital transformation priorities, administrative reform objectives, and future workforce requirements. The methodology will include: 1. Assessing the current institutional situation and existing human resources management approaches. 2. Reviewing and updating job and competency reference frameworks. 3. Identifying current, critical, and future competencies required by the Ministry. 4. Supporting the development of practical tools and approaches for strategic workforce planning and GPEC implementation. 5. Linking competency frameworks to recruitment, training, mobility, career development, and evaluation processes. 6. Supporting the preparation of implementation, monitoring, and follow-up mechanisms. 7. Supporting institutional capacity-building and implementation processes. The assignment will build on ESCWA’s previous regional work on competency-based public administration reform, strategic human resources management, and institutional modernization methodologies. 3. Tasks - duties and responsibilities • Under the supervision of ESCWA’s Governance and Conflict Prevention Cluster, the consultant will undertake the following tasks: • Contribute to the identification of current, critical, and future competencies, including competency gaps and institutional workforce needs. • Support the development of practical tools and operational procedures related to competency-based workforce planning, recruitment, training, mobility, performance evaluation, and knowledge transfer. • Contribute to the preparation of a practical implementation guide and institutional procedures supporting implementation and sustainability of the framework. • Support the development of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess implementation progress and sustainability. • Contribute to the organization and facilitation of technical workshops and consultation meetings with relevant stakeholders. • Prepare technical reports, analytical notes, and final deliverables related to the assignment. 4. Outputs The consultant will deliver the following outputs: • Diagnostic and analytical assessment report on the current human resources management situation, institutional practices, and competency management approaches within the Ministry. • Updated job and competency reference frameworks aligned with institutional functions, digital transformation priorities, administrative reform objectives, and GPEC approaches. • Practical framework and methodology for strategic competency management and workforce planning within the Ministry. • Practical tools and operational procedures supporting competency mapping, workforce planning, recruitment, training, mobility, performance evaluation, and knowledge transfer processes. • Framework for identifying critical and future competencies, including mechanisms supporting continuity of critical competencies and knowledge transfer. • Practical implementation guide supporting implementation and sustainability of the competency management framework. • Monitoring and evaluation framework supporting implementation follow-up and sustainability. • Technical support for the organization and facilitation of workshops and consultation meetings related to the assignment. • Final technical report summarizing methodologies, tools, implementation approaches, recommendations, and proposed next steps. The consultant will work under the supervision of ESCWA’s Governance and Conflict Prevention Cluster. The consultant will work in close coordination with the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform of the Kingdom of Morocco and relevant institutional stakeholders supporting the implementation of the project.

Qualifications/special skills

Master’s degree or equivalent in Public Administration, Human Resources Management, Organizational Development, Public Policy, Management, Governance, or a related field is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. At least 5 years of professional experience in public sector human resources management, competency-based management systems, workforce planning, or institutional reform is required. Demonstrated experience in developing competency frameworks, job reference systems, or strategic workforce planning methodologies is required. Strong knowledge of public administration reform, institutional modernization, and competency-based human resources management approaches is required. Experience in preparing operational tools, implementation guides, and institutional methodologies related to human resources management is required. Experience working with government institutions, public sector reform programmes, or international organizations is highly desirable. Strong analytical, drafting, facilitation, and organizational skills is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in Arabic and Frensh language is required. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.